The Inclusive Governance Initiative (IGI) is a regional project that aims to help countries include sexual and gender minorities in national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to promote and protect human rights. The project is led globally by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The overall objective of the project is to ensure that state entities in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly accountable to their entire population, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, and include them in all sectors. If this goal is achieved, it is envisaged that countries will see better laws, more responsive public sector services, and social norms that affirm LGBTI rights.

This baseline report provides a high-level analysis of the legal and policy context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in particular of key indicators relevant to the IGI’s activities at the national level. Through its indicators, this report constitutes a baseline assessment for future project monitoring and evaluation purposes. The analysis of cross-sectoral and LGBTI-focused legislation, policies and practices, as well as sectoral policies and strategies provides a broader picture of the legal and social environment in relation to human rights and LGBTI integration in the DRC. Among other things, it shows how attitudes and approaches of parliamentarians are manifested in the National Assembly. This report is mainly based on an extensive desk study, complemented by conversations and interviews with key stakeholders. This baseline report will thus inform and support the IGI’s strategy and programming in the DRC in the coming years.